Apparatus for and method of preventing fogging of double windows



June 17, 1941. H. E. ZSCHIEGNER APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF PREVENTING FOGGING OF'DQUBLE WINDOWS Filed Jan. 20, 1938 INVENTOR Patented June 17, 1941 APPARATUS FOR. AND METHOD OF PRE- VENTING FOGGING OF DOUBLE WIN- DOWS Herbert E. Zschiegner, OceanGrove, N. J. Application January 20, 1938, Serial No. 185,864

I 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for drying the atmosphere in the space between double windows of a railway car or other vehicles and for removing fog or moisture from such double windows.

In vehicles such as railway cars or coaches, buses, and the like, where the cars or coaches are air conditioned or cooled, it is desirable to have double windows which are spaced to provide an insulating space. The space between such windows is a dead space and the air therein contains some moisture as a vapor. If the windows and space are chilled below the dew point of the air in the dead space, precipitation of the moisture as a fog ordiquid occurs. This tag or moisture collects on the windows and renders the windows My invention overcomes the fogging or precipi-' tation of the atmosphere in the space between double windows of avehicle by removing moisture therefrom. An apparatus constructed to embody my invention includes means whereby the atmosphere between the double windows is moved or circulated with high frequency when the vehicle is in motion so that the atmosphere between the windows is moved and brought into contact with a drying agent to quickly and efliciently remove moisture from such atmosphere- My invention also includes a method of removing moisture from the air space between double windows of a vehicle.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of part of a side of a vehicle having double windows with parts broken away to facilitate the disclosure;

Figure 2 represents a section taken through the double window assembly shown in Fig. 1 including an apparatus embodying one form of my invention and with the central portion of the window assembly broken away;

Figure 3 represents a reduced, partial vertical longitudinal cross-section taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2 showing the liquid accumuvertical transverse cross-' lated on one side of the partition in the reservoir; and

Figure 4 represents a vertical longitudinal cross-section taken through a modified form of reservoir adapted for use with a double window assembly.

My invention includes apparatus for preventing the formation of fog or condensation of moisture on double windows. According to my invention, I provide means including a. body of liquid whereby the air in the dead space is moved and contacted with a drying agent with high frequency to remove moisture from the air in the dead space.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference character l0 designates the interior of a portion of a vehicle such as a railway car or coach provided with'a double window assembly generally indicated l2. The window construction in an air conditioned coach or car isformed with. two windows or panesof glass l4 and I6 mounted in window frames I 8 and 20 to provide a dead air space 22 which acts as an insulator against heat loss. Each window frame has a shoulder .24 against which each pane of glass is held in position by putty, molding 26 or other suitable fastening means. While I have shown the windowframes I8 and 20 as hollow and as of metal, it is to be understood that these frames may be made of wood or other material. One or both frames l8 and 20 may be hinged along one edge or each window frame may be held in position by strips 30 secured to the vehicle in any suitable manner.

Positioned between the window frames l8 and 20 and suitably secured in the window opening 3| is a resilient member 32, such as rubber, which is slightly compressed between the frames l8 and 20 to firmly hold the window frames in desired position and also to seal the space 22 from the atmosphere. Instead of a resilient member between window frames IB and 20, the frames l8 and 20 may be omitted and resilient members may be mounted on the edges of the windows I4 and I6 and positioned to be held in contact and to hold the windows l4 and I6 in spaced relation. The window frames l8 and 20 rest on the drain shelf 34 and sill 35 of the window construction, shownas of hollow metal construction but which may be of other material. Other means for holding the window frames in position may be used and other forms of window frames may be used. The ones shown in the drawing are merely for purposes of illustration of one restricted thereto.

Air normally contains moisture and if it is cooled sufliciently, the moisture will precipitate out as fog or moisture. If the air between the two windows M and i6 is cooled, a fog or drops of moisture will collect on one of the windows and this will obstruct the view through the window. My invention provides means for preventingsuch fogging or objectionable precipitation of moisture.

An apparatus constructed to embody one form of my invention includes a reservoir 36 containing hygroscopic liquid or a non-aqueous liquid 38 or other liquid which does not evolve moisture. The nature of this liquid 38 will be hereinafter described in greater detail. The container '36 is only partially filled with the liquid 38 to leave a space above the liquid level. In the drawing the reservoir 36 is shown as of a. box-like construction but any desired shape may be used. The reservoir is held in position within the walls of the vehicle beneath the window frames l8 and 20 by supports 42 suitably secured to the body of the vehicle. The reservoir has a partition or dividing wall 54 which extends for the full width thereof and downwardly from the top wall 46 of the reservoir into the liquid 38 to separate the space above the liquid level and subdivide it into spaces 48 and so. The partition as extends into the liquid 36 but does not extend to the bottom of the reservoir as so as to permit movement of the body of liquid in the reservoir when the vehicle is in motion to produce movement or circulation of the air in the space 22 whereby the air in the space 22 is brought into contact with a hygroscopic agent or dehydrating agent.

The reservoir 36 is provided with vertical projecting tubes 54 and 56, one being disposed on either side of the partition 44. These tubes extend through openings 58 in the drain shelf 34 or similar part of a window construction and through openings 60 in resilient member 32. Resilient member 32 functions to seal the tubes 54 v and 56 to prevent seepage of air from the atmosphereinto the space 22 between windows l4 and I6. Tube 54 connects the space 56 above the level of liquid 38 with the dead air space 22 between the windows and I6, and tube 56 connects the space 48 above the level of the liquid 38 on the other side of the partition 44 with the dead space 22. The gasket or member 32 being resilient forms a seal around the tubes 54 and 56 as above described. I

In the slightly modified form of reservoir illustrated in Fig. 4, deflectors or shields 62 are provided for each tube 64 to prevent splashing or movement of the liquid through the tubes 64 into air space 22 when the device is in use. The deflectors may be mounted on their respective tubes in any suitable manner. Each deflector has downwardly extending wings 66 positioned at an angle to each other to permit running of! of any liquid collected thereon.

The liquid 38 suitable for use in the reservoir 36 is preferably azhygroscopic liquid such as glycerine, diethylene glycol, sulfuric acid or the like. In my preferred form I use diethylene glycol. Where sulfuric acid is used in my device the reservoir selected must resist the corrosive action of the acid and may be lead or lead lined. The apparatus may also be used with a nonaqueous liquid or a liquid which does not evolve moisture such as an oil as, for example, mineral oil. Where such a non-aqueous liquid is used, a separate container provided with hygroscopic material is installed in the ceiling of the reservoir 36, or in the tubes 54, 56, 64 leading therefrom or in the dead space 22 itself. Such hygroscopic material may be any suitable moisture absorbing substance such as calcium chloride or other dehydrating chemicals. 1

The operation of an apparatus constructed to embody one form of my invention will now be given but it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted thereto. The apparatus is preferably positioned within the side wall of a. railway car or coach or other vehicle and beneath the double window as above described. When installed in a railway car or coach and the car or coach is in motion, the movements of the train or car such as starting, stopping, slowing, speeding, etc., cause the liquid 36 to pile up or be forced up first in one end of the reservoir or into space 48 of the reservoir 36 as at 66 in Fig. 3 and correspondingly lowered in the other space 58 of the reservoinforcing an equivalent amount of air or fluid from air space 48 through tube 56 into the dead space 22 and into space 58 in the reservoir and then piled up or forced upinto the other end or into space 50 of the reservoir 36 and correspondingly lowered in space 48 of the reservoir end of the reservoir 36 to force an equivalent amount of air or fluid from air space 50 through tube 54 into' the space 22 and into air space 48 of the reservoir 36 thereby producing continuous movement of the air in the heretofore dead space so that the air in the space 22 between the windows i4 and I6 is brought continuously into contact with the hygroscopic liquid in spaces 48 and 58 and substantially all of the moisture is removed therefrom. The sidewise movement of the car also assists in bringing the air from the space 22 into contact with the hygroscopic liquid in the reservoir 36.

During movements of the body of liquid 38 due to the movements of the vehicle, the air in space 22 will be moved backand forth and different portions thereof will be brought into contact with the hygroscopic liquid or other dehydrating agent. I have diagrammatically shown the liquid 38 forced toward one end of the. reservoir 36 in use in Fig. 3.

Where a non-aqueousliquid or liquid which does not evolve moisture is used in the reservoir 36 instead of hygroscopic liquid, absorbent material is separately added to the device and may be positioned at the ceiling of the reservoir 36, in one or both tubes 54, 56 or in the space 22 between the windows. The non-aqueous liquid in the reservoir 36 on a moving vehicle or railway coach will act to move the air in the space 22 between the windows 14 and II in contact with the hygroscopic material whereby moisture will be removed from the air by the hygroscopic material. The liquid will function to force the air around in both cases except that in one case the liquid itself also acts to absorb moisture.

It is to be understood that while I have shown two examples of my invention they are merely for the purpose of illustration and many variations and modifications thereof are possible without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described adapted to be placed in communication with the space between windows of double windows of a railway car, vehicle or the like, which includes an enclosed reservoir containing a. liquid and provided with a partition extending transversely thereof and downwardly from the ceiling of said reservoir and into the liquid therein but not to the bottom of said reservoir to divide the. space above the and provided with a partition extending downwardly from the ceiling of said reservoir and into liquid into two portions, and tubular members extending from said reservoir on opposite sides of said partition and adapted to be placed in communication with the space between windows of a double window.

2. A device of the character described adapted to be placed in communication with the space between windows of double windows of a railway car, vehicle or the like, which includes an enclosed reservoir containing a hygroscopic liquid and provided with a partition extending downwardly from the ceiling of said reservoir and into said liquid but not to the bottom of said reservoir, and tubular members communicating with said reservoir on opposite sides of said partition and adapted to be placed in communication with the space in a double window.

3. In combination with a vehicle provided with a double window having an air space therebetween, an enclosed reservoir containing a liquid 20 the liquid therein to separate the space above the liquid into two portions, 9, dehydrating agent associated with said air space and said reservoir, and tubular members projecting from said reservoir, one tubular member communicating with one of said spaces above the liquid in said reservoir, and another tubular member communicating with the other space portion said tubular members also being in communication with said air space in said double window, whereby movement of said vehicle causes movement of said liquid and consequent movement of the air in said air space in said double window and contact of the air with said dehydrating agent.

4. A device according to claim 2 in which the hygroscopic liquid contains diethylene glycol.

HERBERT E. ZSCI-IIEGNER. 

